Kenya: Muslim who shielded Christian passengers dies of his injuries

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A young Muslim teacher who shielded Christian fellow passengers with his own body when their bus was attacked by Islamist militants in Kenya in December, has died of his injuries.

Teacher Salah Farah, aged 26, died in hospital in Nairobi during surgery to remove a bullet. He leaves his pregnant wife, four children and his elderly father.

Mr Farah was on a bus travelling through Mandera when it was attacked by al-Shabab on 21 December. The attackers told the Muslims to move away from the Christian passengers, but Farah, together with several other Muslim passengers refused.

Mr Farah told the BBC: "They told us if you are a Muslim, we are safe. There were some people who were not Muslim. They hid their heads," he said.

"We asked them to kill all of us or leave us alone."

Speaking on Voice of America he said: "people should live peacefully together.. We are brothers. It's only the religion that is the difference, so I ask my brother Muslims to take care of the Christians so that the Christians also take care of us... and let us help one another and let us live together peacefully."

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet paid tribute to Mr Farah, telling Kenya's Standard Mr Farah was "a true hero".

Mr Farah's brother Rashid says he hopes his brother's death will bring religious harmony and encourage Kenyans to live as one community.